ZURICH, Switzerland -- Brazil was selected FIFA's top soccer
team of the year for the fifth straight year, beating out World Cup
winner Italy.

Brazil finished with 1,588 points in the final rankings released
Monday by soccer's world governing body. Brazil had 10 wins, one
draw and one defeat -- its World Cup quarterfinal loss to France.
Italy was second with 1,560 points.

"Brazil's four victories in Germany and highly consistent
performances in friendly matches, irrespective of their opponents
and the venue, were still more than the most promising chasing
teams had to offer," FIFA said in a statement.

Italy may have finished on top if it had performed better after
beating France on penalty kicks to win its fourth World Cup title
in July. Italy lost 2-0 to Croatia and drew 1-1 with Turkey in
exhibitions and drew 1-1 with Lithuania and lost 3-1 to France in
European Championship qualifiers after the World Cup.

Italy was chosen "mover of the year" by FIFA, having risen
from 12th to second.

The top 10 hasn't changed since last month -- Argentina is third,
followed by France, England, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal,
Nigeria and the Czech Republic.

The highest mover in the top 25 was Guinea, which moved from
27th to 24th.